Electoral Violence Spikes as Violent Incidents Increase steadily in 3rd quarter of 2024

There has been a spike in electoral violence cases in Ghana in the 3^rd quarter of 2024. This is the first time since January 2022 that more than 3 political/electoral violence incidents have been recorded per quarter. Electoral violence cases spiked to 35 cases contributing 33% of the 105 violent incidents as well as representing the second most occurring type of case after physical violence. Greater Accra is the center stage of the electoral violence, recording 16 of these cases followed by Central and Ashanti which recorded five (5) each. Political violence as reported by the media was occasioned by the NDC’s call for Audit of the Voters Register; District Road Improvement Project (DRIP); Divisive and attacking insults in the media by political party activists, as well as the “Enough is Enough” Demonstrations; destruction of political party billboards and posters among others

At the same time, it can be observed from the graph that there is a steady rise in violence considering the 67 incidents in qtr1; 86 in qtr2 and then 105 in qtr3.

Overall. the Greater Accra Region leads the violent incidents count with 32 (30.5%) incidents. Central Region follows with 22 (33%) incidents. The Ashanti Region followed with 18 (17.1%) incidents. Eastern region recorded 6 (5.7%) incidents. The Northern and Upper West each recorded 4 (3.8%).

The Coastal and middle zones contributed over 86% of the violence and 85% of casualties. Particularly for the Coastal zone there were as many as 60 violent incidents resulting in 52 casualties. In the middle zone, 30 incidents resulted in 47 casualties translating to a ratio of 1.6 casualties per each violent incident. This makes the middle zone the most fatal compared to the North casualty of (1.2) and coastal (0.9) areas.